December 2022 Eugenia's Letter

The following is a letter from Eugenia who lives and works in Russian occupied territory. The conditions make it even harder to work there but our co-workers continue to help people. We are not able to contact them regularly but are able to send funds for the ministry.

I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. From the very beginning, I want to say a huge thank you to you for not abandoning us in such a difficult time. Thank you for worrying, praying, and supporting our work for the Lord. My family and I continue to stay in the occupied territory. The prices here are growing at the speed of light: some things cost as much as 4 times what they used to. We very often have no phone service, no internet, no water, no electricity, and no gas. My husband’s place of work recently closed, but he continues to serve the Lord in the local churches as well as in nearby villages. Finding a job is ever more difficult as more places shut down. I work at a senior’s shelter but we are no longer being paid. In reality we have the strange situation of being left with a job, but without a salary. There is nowhere for the elderly ladies to go, and it would be a big stress for them to be moved elsewhere. The pensions of these grandmothers are hardly enough to cover the shelter’s food and utility bills. Please pray about this difficult situation.

It is also hard for the children. Our son Damir was very frightened yesterday when there was shooting all day, and then the whole school had to go to the basement due to the threat of rocket attacks. Sometimes I feel like there is no safe place anywhere! But we continue to help the people that are in need. At this time I have three options for helping people here: to transfer some financial assistance to their cards, to take it to them personally when I visit, or to provide them with some groceries etc.

One young family I am helping lived here until the war began. But when her son turned 3 years old, Galya decided to move to a nearby city outside the occupied area. The father does not seem to care about his son at all. Unfortunately, Galya could not work because her son is autistic, and has many needs. They live in a dormitory adjoining the city hospital. It is still very close to the areas that are subjected to nightly shelling and the boy is constantly scared. Galya faithfully takes him to all the doctors appointments and spends every penny on her son. One day a siren blared somewhere very close by, and now she needs to teach him to go to the potty again, because after being frightened, he lost this skill. Thanks to you, we are able to help with some funds for treatments and necessary procedures. Every time she says - "You saved me again." And she is grateful to you from the bottom of her heart.

These days, when I communicate with people, I constantly write the same phrase: "How are you?" This message has more meaning now. We are relying on the Lord day by day, so please continue to remember us in your prayers. May the Lord reward you a hundredfold for your sacrifices and kindness.